The Rangers’ homestand ended with a little late-night drama and a 3-2 win over the Flyers, powered by a third-period push that flipped the game in a hurry.
New York opened the night in its new Hometown Remix jerseys and carried that energy early, getting on the board just 4:30 into the first period. The second line started the play down low, Marcus Pettersson sent a shot from the point, and the puck changed direction off J.T.
Miller before ending up in the net. The goal was eventually credited to Gabe Perreault after the puck deflected off Miller’s stick and then off Perreault, giving the Rangers a 1-0 lead.
That opening frame was one of New York’s best of the season. The Rangers controlled the puck for long stretches, looked sharp across all four lines, and had the Flyers on their heels for most of the period.
Philadelphia did edge the shot count 9-8, but the Rangers still went to the first intermission in front. Pavel Dorofeyev also rang a post, adding to a night that felt like it could have opened up even earlier.
The second period turned messier. Alexis Lafrenière had a great chance to add to the lead, but Simon Benoit denied him in tight.
Then, just after the halfway point, the Flyers tied it when New York couldn’t clear the zone and Benoit’s one-time keep-in found its way toward the net. With Scott Morrow tied up with Noah Cates in front, Dylan Garand was screened and the puck slipped high into the net for a 1-1 game.
The bad luck didn’t stop there. Less than two minutes later, Jamie Drysdale’s shot went off Eeli Tolvanen’s stick, bounced to Denver Barkey, and the puck quickly ended up with Noel Acciari in front for the go-ahead goal. Suddenly, the Rangers were down 2-1 after looking in control for much of the night.
The period’s only penalty came with 4:30 left, when Nick Seeler was called for slashing Noah Laba. New York’s power play came up empty, and the Rangers later killed off a Braden Schneider tripping penalty to keep the deficit at one. Through 40 minutes, the Rangers still held a narrow 18-17 edge in shots.
The third period brought a shuffle in the forward groups, with Mika Zibanejad double-shifted at center and Will Cuylle moved back to the wing. Dorofeyev didn’t take a shift for the first five minutes, and the lines kept changing as the Rangers searched for an answer.
They finally got one with 6:00 left, when Barkey was whistled for slashing and New York’s power play delivered. Mika Zibanejad found Dorofeyev, and Dorofeyev fired a shot through a defender’s legs and past Joseph Woll to tie it 2-2.
That goal changed everything. Just 89 seconds later, Adam Fox made a strong read to spring Tye Kartye for a partial breakaway, and Kartye finished with a wrist shot to put the Rangers back in front, 3-2.
Fox’s assist also pushed him to 20 points, making him the fastest defenseman since Brian Leetch to reach that mark in a season.
Philadelphia pulled Woll with 80 seconds left and pushed hard for the equalizer, but the Rangers held firm. New York even hit the post again in the closing seconds before closing out the win.
The Rangers now have eight home wins, the most in the league, and they’ll head to Seattle next for a late-afternoon matchup with the Kraken on Saturday.
In Other News...
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For a team that has to keep one eye on the salary cap while trying to build around its current core, Kartyes rise creates an interesting decision point. The Rangers can see the value clearly enough now, which is why the conversation is shifting from what he has already provided to how long they can keep him in the fold without complicating the rest of the roster picture. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Finally Delivered The Late Push Fans Had Been Waiting For
The late-game push the Rangers have been searching for finally showed up at Madison Square Garden, where they rallied past the Flyers 3-2 with a third-period surge. After spending much of the night trying to claw back into it, New York got the kind of response it has been missing, and it came against a division opponent in a game that mattered for both momentum and the home-ice feel around the building.
Dylan Garand helped keep the comeback within reach with 23 saves, and the Rangers were able to turn a one-goal deficit into a win by capitalizing when the game opened up late. For a team looking to build on stronger results at home and against Metropolitan Division rivals, this was the sort of finish that can linger a little longer than two points usually do. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Make A Goalie Move As Defensive Injury Problem Grows
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